All posts tagged EPA

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration is moving forward with tough new standards to cut pollution from cars, prompting an outcry from refiners who say the proposal could raise the cost of producing gasoline by nearly 10 cents a gallon.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which says the rule will cost considerably less, is expected to say Friday that it wants to reduce the amount of sulfur in gasoline to an average of 10 parts per million, down from the current standard of 30 ppm, people briefed on the plan said.

I’m excited about my current test vehicle. I waited months for it to arrive in the press fleet, with a level of anticipation usually reserved for the first day of spring, the prom or the opening race of the Moto GP season. The vehicle in question isn’t a sports car or luxury GT. It’s a minivan — with a four-cylinder engine.

Toyota began offering its 2011 minivan earlier this year, and the lineup included a four-cylinder engine not previously offered on this model. It was a big surprise in a segment that has grown increasingly indulgent with multiple video screens, refrigerators and two cup holders per passenger in some models.

We have all gotten tips from parents, friends and Uncle What’s-his-name on saving fuel. But many of these self-proclaimed experts may have had it wrong. The Environmental Protection Agency has put together a list of the top misconceptions about fuel economy based on feedback from drivers. Some of the myths will sound familiar but others may surprise you. Here they are, in no special order:

You have to drive a small car to get good fuel economy: Advanced engine technology including hybrids, diesels and direct fuel injection have helped several mid-size cars become top performers in fuel efficiency.

Using premium fuel improves fuel economy: Unless your vehicle was specifically designed for premium fuel or runs poorly on regular fuel, you will probably see no improvement from using premium over regular.

The federal government is rethinking the way to calculate fuel-efficiency ratings for electric vehicles, a move that will likely result in a significant reduction in the mile-per-gallon claims some auto makers have touted for the battery-powered cars they plan to launch later this year.

Using a preliminary formula released by the EPA, GM last year said its Chevy Volt would be rated at 230 miles per gallon in city driving, and Nissan Motor Co. said its Leaf electric car would get the equivalent of 367 miles per gallon. But now the agency is in the midst of finalizing that formula in a way that will deliver more down-to-earth mileage ratings, according to several people familiar with the situation. Both auto makers have toned down their mileage claims.